The Australian branch of gaming website IGN has a new preview of Grand Theft Auto IV today which focuses exclusively on the physics system in the game. Rockstar has licensed a piece of middleware called Euphoria by British software company NaturalMotion.

The article makes specific mention that the physics system will be noticeable in both character and vehicle control. Characters will now stand appropriately depending on the terrain with a stance on a hill seeing knees bent realistically.

The bodies of characters will also be dynamic inside of vehicles and if hit hard enough then a person can be ejected from a vehicle through the windshield. Most importantly though, this can also happen to the player meaning that intense head-on collisions will see Niko flying out of the vehicle and potentially then becoming an easier target for chasing enemies.